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Religion - How Much Of It's Foundation Is Based On FEAR ???

How much of religion is fear?

  • Most of it

    Votes: 5 55.6%

  • About 75%

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • About 50%

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • About 25%

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • None of it

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • other - please explain

    Votes: 4 44.4%
  • Total voters
    9
Dragonfly

Dragonfly

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How much of religion is wrapped up in fear?

Fear of damnation.
Fear of Hell.
Fear of not going to "heaven".
Fear of eternity.
Fear of judgement.
Fear of letting down your parents or grandparents.
Fear of family.

Seems to me an huge portion of the foundation of religion is wrapped up in fear.

You can't question your faith. You can't question god. You can't question the Bible. You can't question religious doctrine or dogma.
You can't question anything really or you risk everything.

Many will probably suggest it's got nothing to do with fear, but is that just a smoke screen?

Most debates about religion and topics revolving around religion are boil down to the religious side pointing out the consequences for "sinning" or the consequences for not believing.

Isn't that fear?

"If I accept the idea of allowing gay people to marry I'll be punished, or suffer the wrath of......"

"If you don't accept these things as "truth you won't be allowed to entire the kingdom of heaven...."

That's fear isn't it?
 
No, I would not say it's fear. I'd say is discomfort towards the unknown or "risky" circumstances. Although 'fear' by itself has been used at a tactic before. "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
 
There's also the often stated fear of:

Without religion we'd have no morals.

Chaos, rape, murder, pedophilia, and bestiality would rule the day and make the Mad Max movies look like G rated Disney flicks.
 
Dragonfly said:
How much of religion is wrapped up in fear?

Fear of damnation.
Fear of Hell.
Fear of not going to "heaven".
Fear of eternity.
Fear of judgement.
Fear of letting down your parents or grandparents.
Fear of family.

Seems to me an huge portion of the foundation of religion is wrapped up in fear.

[/I]
Click to expand...

I would say that MUCH of what we do, religion or not, is based in fear. The same principle applies to all institutions in which power and control are central, including government. We behave because we fear the consequences of not doing so, whether it is eternal damnation, or a prison sentence.
 
brothern said:
No, I would not say it's fear. I'd say is discomfort towards the unknown or "risky" circumstances. Although 'fear' by itself has been used at a tactic before. "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
Click to expand...

Discomfort = fear

Semantics basically.
 
lizzie said:
I would say that MUCH of what we do, religion or not, is based in fear. The same principle applies to all institutions in which power and control are central, including government. We behave because we fear the consequences of not doing so, whether it is eternal damnation, or a prison sentence.
Click to expand...

I won't go to prison for kicking my dog, or cheating on my spouse....but I don't do it because doing those things is simply wrong.
 
Dragonfly said:
There's also the often stated fear of:

Without religion we'd have no morals.

Chaos, rape, murder, pedophilia, and bestiality would rule the day and make the Mad Max movies look like G rated Disney flicks.
Click to expand...

Do you actually believe that drivel?

In the UK those who are active Christians are unusual. We don't have an epidemic of such vile acts. In fact violence is declining.
 
Some of it is fear, fear of death, fear of what might follow death, fear of the unknown. Some is a desire to control other people, to make them behave in a way you feel is appropriate. Still more is a feeling of superiority you get over the non believers, "those people" whoever they may be, aren't as good as us as they have different beliefs. Taken to extremes, that sort of thinking makes it possible to wage war on others without considering that their loss of life is equal to that of our people.
 
Dragonfly said:
How much of religion is wrapped up in fear?

Fear of damnation.
Fear of Hell.
Fear of not going to "heaven".
Fear of eternity.
Fear of judgement.
Fear of letting down your parents or grandparents.
Fear of family.

Seems to me an huge portion of the foundation of religion is wrapped up in fear.

You can't question your faith. You can't question god. You can't question the Bible. You can't question religious doctrine or dogma.
You can't question anything really or you risk everything.

Many will probably suggest it's got nothing to do with fear, but is that just a smoke screen?

Most debates about religion and topics revolving around religion are boil down to the religious side pointing out the consequences for "sinning" or the consequences for not believing.

Isn't that fear?

"If I accept the idea of allowing gay people to marry I'll be punished, or suffer the wrath of......"

"If you don't accept these things as "truth you won't be allowed to entire the kingdom of heaven...."

That's fear isn't it?
Click to expand...

It all depends on the individual. For the truly knowledgeable, religion isn't about "fear" at all. It is about enlightenment, love, and understanding. It is about coming to know not only one's creator as he was meant to be known, but one's self and the world in general.

Unfortunately, however, the vast majority people are too intrinsically "human" and flawed to ever truly reach that point. The religious devotion of many laypeople can be said to be based largely on fear of their own mortality or divine retribution as such.

To be quite frank, so long as it keeps them out of trouble, I don't necessarily have a problem with that state of affairs. :shrug:
 
Last edited:
Dragonfly said:
How much of religion is wrapped up in fear?

Fear of damnation.
Fear of Hell.
Fear of not going to "heaven".
Fear of eternity.
Fear of judgement.
Fear of letting down your parents or grandparents.
Fear of family.

Seems to me an huge portion of the foundation of religion is wrapped up in fear.

You can't question your faith. You can't question god. You can't question the Bible. You can't question religious doctrine or dogma.
You can't question anything really or you risk everything.

Many will probably suggest it's got nothing to do with fear, but is that just a smoke screen?

Most debates about religion and topics revolving around religion are boil down to the religious side pointing out the consequences for "sinning" or the consequences for not believing.

Isn't that fear?

"If I accept the idea of allowing gay people to marry I'll be punished, or suffer the wrath of......"

"If you don't accept these things as "truth you won't be allowed to entire the kingdom of heaven...."

That's fear isn't it?
Click to expand...

Since for me 'religion' is a relationship with the person I call "God", the concept of fear doesn't enter into it. My only 'fear' is that I disappoint the one I love, not a fear of any kind of retaliation or withholding of some hoped for reward.
 
Its fear and also a desire to control other people, to put the breaks on everyone. They are afraid of speed so to speak, always grabbing the emergency break. Its a form of hysteria.
 
If religion isn't about fear, then why the hell do religious folks give a good god damn about what others do?

Same-sex marriage should not be a problem. Unless there's fear involved.
 
Dragonfly said:
If religion isn't about fear, then why the hell do religious folks give a good god damn about what others do?
Click to expand...

Because they feel certain behaviors to be morally objectionable and destructive to society in general, perhaps?

Do we prosecute crimes out of "fear" as well in your view?

For that matter, what on Earth does this have to do with your OP question? You don't seem to be talking about the same variety of "fear" here that you alluded to in your first post, or in the poll you provided.

Same-sex marriage should not be a problem. Unless there's fear involved.
Click to expand...

Fear of what, exactly?
wtf.gif


michijo said:
Its fear and also a desire to control other people, to put the breaks on everyone
Click to expand...

You say that as if it were a bad thing. :lol:

Frankly, I'm of the opinion that modern society in general could greatly benefit from taking things a bit more slowly than we are at present. We're a civilization ruled by irrational passions and self-centered individualistic wants almost exclusively, with the cooler headed and more rational among us being shouted down almost out of hand.

I hate to break it to you, but sheep sometimes require a shepherd if they are to avoid running afoul of the wolves waiting in the wings.
 
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Fear and hate.

If the "Christians" followed the teachings of the anointed one (Christ or Christi in Greek) they would have no problem with gays, abortion, immigrants, foriegners, liberals and would oppose ALL Wars. Instead they are taught by their human pastors to do the opposite.

It sort of reminds me of what the last book of the Bible says about prophets.

Wolfman 24
 
Dragonfly said:
How much of religion is wrapped up in fear?

Fear of damnation.
Fear of Hell.
Fear of not going to "heaven".
Fear of eternity.
Fear of judgement.
Fear of letting down your parents or grandparents.
Fear of family.

Seems to me an huge portion of the foundation of religion is wrapped up in fear.

You can't question your faith. You can't question god. You can't question the Bible. You can't question religious doctrine or dogma.
You can't question anything really or you risk everything.

Many will probably suggest it's got nothing to do with fear, but is that just a smoke screen?

Most debates about religion and topics revolving around religion are boil down to the religious side pointing out the consequences for "sinning" or the consequences for not believing.

Isn't that fear?

"If I accept the idea of allowing gay people to marry I'll be punished, or suffer the wrath of......"

"If you don't accept these things as "truth you won't be allowed to entire the kingdom of heaven...."

That's fear isn't it?
Click to expand...

Growing up: using religion / god as fear is what i remember from my family.

"I'm afraid for your soul" was huge as was "God will be angry if you don't"
 
I believe religion is all about fear. Every human civilization in history has created religious beliefs. The purpose has always been to "regulate" society - help keep the peace. It is a good thing. But it is certainly based on fear.
 
Dragonfly said:
How much of religion is wrapped up in fear?

Fear of damnation.
Fear of Hell.
Fear of not going to "heaven".
Fear of eternity.
Fear of judgement.
Fear of letting down your parents or grandparents.
Fear of family.

Seems to me an huge portion of the foundation of religion is wrapped up in fear.

You can't question your faith. You can't question god. You can't question the Bible. You can't question religious doctrine or dogma.
You can't question anything really or you risk everything.

Many will probably suggest it's got nothing to do with fear, but is that just a smoke screen?

Most debates about religion and topics revolving around religion are boil down to the religious side pointing out the consequences for "sinning" or the consequences for not believing.

Isn't that fear?

"If I accept the idea of allowing gay people to marry I'll be punished, or suffer the wrath of......"

"If you don't accept these things as "truth you won't be allowed to entire the kingdom of heaven...."

That's fear isn't it?
Click to expand...

yes fear is involved at least with Christians and Muslims and im sure others as well

but theirs also bribes

and the comfort of being able to say what you want is right for every one no matter what

im adding to the problem but the philosophy section is turning into the religious one
 
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